Spicy Bits

It's been announced that Clayton-based Wasabi Management Company, which owns the popular Japanese restaurants bearing the Wasabi Sushi Bar name, has purchased the three St. Louis SanSai locations. "With different menus and dining experiences, SanSai complements the Japanese cuisine offerings that our Wasabi Sushi Bars have been providing diners in the St. Louis area since 2003,” according to Wasabi CEO John Kim in a press release regarding the purchase.

Word is the second location of The Block, the butcher shop/restaurant from MARC DEL PIETRO that debuted last year in Webster Groves, is slated to move into the former Terrene space at 33 Sarah Ave. in the CWE.

The craft beer scene in the Lou keeps garnering more and more national attention. Draft Magazine has named 4 Hands Brewery's Prunus, a sour cherry saison, and Urban Chestnut Brewing Company's Zwickel, the brewery's flagship lager, to its list of Top 25 Beers in 2012. We can attest from first-hand experience that both are mighty fine brews!

Pan D'Olive, a new modern Mediterranean restaurant, has moved into the space at 1603 McCausland Ave. left vacant last year with the departure of Mihalis Chop House. In other restaurant opening news, The Rustic Goat has begun operations at 2617 Washington Ave. downtown. The restaurant is serving up lunch and dinner as well as happy hour and late-night offerings.

It's now even easier for folks to get a mac and cheese fix. Cheese-ology in the U-City Loop, is now offering online ordering for delivery and pick-up.

On Saturday, Dec. 8, from noon until 6 pm, Mount Pleasant Winery in Augusta will host its first annual Kringle Market, a take on a traditional German Christmas market that celebrates the winemaker’s German heritage. Admission is free, and the winery’s Appellation Café will serve traditional German favorites, including hot roast beef sandwiches, beer cheese soup, snickerdoodle cookies and more.